State Sen. Kwame Raoul, D-Chicago, was trying to negotiate a compromise with gun-rights supporters. But ultimately he went his own way. His proposal would not allow guns in schools, day cares, casinos, and stadiums.

Gun owners would have to apply to the Illinois State Police, who would in turn ask local law enforcement whether there was a reason someone should not be licensed. It would also let Chicago police deny some individuals with concealed-carry permits from bringing weapons into the city.

Raoul says Chicago has things that make it different from the rest of Illinois — like a much higher population density. “So there’s a lot more opportunity for conflict,” Raoul says.

The difference here is the one at the heart of the gun debate: If you look at a city with a relatively high crime rate, do you say the answer lies in more guns or fewer? Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, flipped Raoul’s argument about Chicago’s potential for conflict on its head.

“Isn’t that a reason to make sure it is just as east to carry a loaded firearm in the city of Chicago?” Raoul says.

Todd Vandermyde, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, says it isn’t a “real” concealed-carry bill.

“This is a bill to discourage people and prevent people from carrying a firearm and exercising their constitutional, fundamental right to keep and bear arms for self-defense in the public,” Vandermyde says.

He says permit holders would have a hard time navigating the patchwork of restrictions that the legislation would allow. He and other pro-gun activists are pushing for a much less restrictive law.

A Senate committee approved the measure on a party-line vote. The legislation’s Democratic sponsor says he doesn’t know whether he has enough votes to get it through the full Senate, but he says he could try as early as Friday.

Illinois has until June 9 to meet a federal court decline to enact some form of concealed-carry.

One Response to Senate Advancing Restrictive Concealed-Carry Proposal

Why would anybody believe the crime rate in Chicago would go down by blocking one’s individual right to protect themselves? Based on results the police and the liberals are NOT effective protecting Americans in that city!! Look at the facts and based on results with CCW the crime will be reduced because bad guy’s will end up with 2 shots center mass and one in the head! There for a reduction in the bad guy population…once that pattern is established a few times the bad guy may stop for a split second and think is that going to happen to me???

I have carried concealed for the past 18 years with no issues except for one uneducated individual thinking he was between my gun in my truck and myself. The outcome of his actions was reinforced by the fact I had a concealed weapon and I truely believe when he was looking down my .45 caliber he desided to STOP his aggression and was able to continue with his life! Two more steps he would have experienced two shots center mass and one to the head and lived anyother day.